Trini Outlaw

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Dookeran faints at brother’s funeral

By RICHARDSON DHALAI Saturday, October 6 2007

CONGRESS of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran, emotionally overwhelmed by the loss of his brother Clyde ‘‘Spanky’’ Dookeran, whom he (Winston) considered as his father, fainted at yesterday’s funeral service at the house of mourning in La Romaine.

Relatives later said Dookeran missed breakfast and the intense heat combined with his emotional state caused him to collapse at the service and he had to be assisted by family and friends.

After taking a brief rest, Dookeran led the processional march at the Shore of Peace in Mosquito Creek where his brother’s remains were cremated.

The incident occurred before the service began when Dookeran, 64, was greeting Pundit Ramesh Tiwari at his brother’s Faralon Drive, Bel Air, La Romain home. The COP leader who, according to family sources had not slept since his brother’s death on Wednesday morning, collapsed while embracing Tiwari.

Dookeran did not address the funeral ceremony but instead greeted friends, relatives and well-wishers following the ceremony. He was later examined by a family doctor and given a clean bill of health but a family member said following the funeral service, he was taken directly home to rest in preparation for today’s COP presentation of candidates at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

A family source said Clyde’s death had deeply affected Dookeran since he (Clyde) was credited for keeping the family intact following the death of their father Mewalal, who died at the age of 39, leaving wife Sumintra to care for their seven children — Norman, Boysie, Clyde, Shirley, Winston, Harold and Tyrone.

According to Dr Brinsley Samaroo, who delivered the eulogy at the service, Clyde opted to stay at home and keep the family together while his brothers and sister went abroad to study.

“He did not falter but took on the role of a father and was mainly responsible for the family not breaking up. He was the constant rock, the pinnacle upon which the family was held together,” he said.

Oh fock ah feel sorry for the man eh. At lease lemme extend meh sympathies to him and his family.

But why the fock everybody hiding the man weakness and sickness. Everybody know about the health of Bas and Patos. But Dookeran is ah sick man. He have diabetes and does suffer from high blood pressure. Now we also have to bear in mind that this is the second brother to pass away for the year.